Method of making tires.



J. H. HILL.

METHOD OF MAKING TIRES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-8.1911.

1,141,708. Patented June 1, 1915.

tube in which, at a suitable point, the teat or p JOSEPH H. HILL, OF"WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

METHOD OF .MAKING TIRES.

trauma.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. June 1, 1915.

Application filed September 8, 1911. Serial No. 648,890.

and State of Delaware, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Methods of Making Tires, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact specification.

This invention relates to method of making tires, the object being toprovide a tire of great strength-and ability to resist puncture, ll] alow cost of manufacture.

The tire consists of a hollow tubular core of yielding or elasticmaterial, such a rubber, having an inflating tube or nozzle and coveredwith multiple layers of rubber and braiding, the Whole being vulcanizedunder internal pressure sufiicient to force the rubber between theinterstices of the braided fabric to form a homogeneous tubularstructure of great strength.

Tires have been made heretofore by forming multiple layers of rubber andwinding between strips of canvas or cotton duck andsubsequently'vulcanizing; such a productdifi'ers radically from mine inthat I provide for a seamless uncut mesh braided in consecutive stepsabout the several layers of the tire which secures-perfect uniformity oftexture of the ultimate product.

' My invention will be better understood in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which Figure 1 illustrates a tube ofunvulcanized rubber from which the core or lining is made; Fig- 2 ahollow ring formed of such nozzle is drawn to form the means forinflating the tire when finally completed; Fig. 3 illustrates'the modeof building up the tire with alternate layers of rubber and braiding;and Fig. 4 shows a section of a completed tire; Fig. 5 shows areinforce. Fig. 6 shows a shoe made according to the method of thisinvention.

My invention is carried out by forming in desired lengths, by squirting,butt or lap welding, or any other approved process, a length ofair tighttubing from rubber compound prepared for vulcanization of appropriatesize to constitute the hollow core of tliefinal product. shown inFig. 1. I cut off a proper length and coil it into circular form,inserting one end within theother, the joined parts being cementedtogether as indicated in Fig. 2. Before cementing the joint, I introducea suitable quantity of ammonia or other gas forming substance, whichwill produce suflicient pressure under the heat-of vulcanization toinflate the tube into contact with the walls of the mold, and draw outata central point a teat, 2, from the unvulcanized compound of sufficientlen th to form a. nipple to receive a valve for in ating the tire. fterjoining and cementing the ends, the hollow core 3 forms an annular ring,as shown in Fig. 2. It is then placed in a mold and suflicient heatapplied to effect partial vulcanization while partially expanded. I thenbraid consecutive layers on the annular core, of textile material, suchas cotton, separated-by layers of rubber as indicated at 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,Fig. 3. This may be applied in any desired manner but is preferablycarried out in a braiding machine by which a tubular layer of braid isapplied around the partially inflated core, and simultaneously a thinstrip of rubber is wound about the braiding. As many layers as desiredof rubber and braid may be applied, each braided covering forming aseamless fabric inclosing the rubber in a strong openwork mesh, eachstrand completely surrounding the tube'and making a stronger, moreuniform fabric than canvas strips or any similar construction. While thelayers of braiding are separate one from the other because of theinterposed layers of rubber, the braiding is itself continuous, as isalso the interposed rubber. This can easily be effected in a braidingmachine specially-eonstructedto open to permit removaloffthe finishedtire before final vulcanization. {The partially inflated annular innertube having been inserted in the machine, as the braiding is applied,the tube is revolved. The rubber is applied onthe braiding. and thus-asmany layers of continuous rubber and braiding will be'applied, as thetube is given revolutions. After four or five alternate layers of therubber and braid have been continuously built up on-t'h'e tube, I mayapply one or more protecting braidings of fine wire, 9, 10,preferablycopper wire. Before applying these lastztwo layers ofbraidflvhether of cotton, wire or'other'material, two strips of rubberll (reinforced if desired) of the required thickness to produce aclencher beading, or other form of base to seat on the rim are placed inproper position on the inner periphery and then the final tubularcoverings of braid are applied. A final lit) . ered with a thick sheetof rubber which will constitute the tread when in service. The tire isthen placed in a suitably shaped mold having a cross section such as inFig. 4, and vulcanized under full heat and heavy pressure suppliedthrough the valve. The pressure and heat when first applied cause therubber to flow and impregnate the meshes of the braiding and to fill thesinuosities of the mold giving the base, 11, the proper outline to fit awheel rim and giving the tread, 12, a gradually increasing thicknesstoward the line of contact with the road.

If desired, there may be embedded in the mass of rubber which reinforcesthe tread of the tire prior to vulcanization perforated rings or stripsof leather, 13, Fig. 5, through the holes of which rubber will be forcedby pressure, the leather strip constituting an additional safeguardagainst puncture, and skidding. 01: such strips may be placed in themold in the final step, in which case a tough armor of leather willbeanchored in the tread flush with its surface. The method of thisinvention is not confined to the manufacture of what is known as aas-tobend the segment which is to be the single tube tire, since acasing or shoe for a double tube tire can be made in an equivalentmanner, it simply being necessary to change the molds to crescent form,so as to impart to' the braided tubing and rubberla crescent instead of.annular cross section when completed. Fig. 6 shows this interior half ofthe tire within the outer portion around the wires 14 and the beadingstrip 11. Even if the heading strip 11 and wires 1 t be not used, thesame method can be carr ed out and a shoe formed wherein the braidingswill not have to be cut to remove the mold core, it being seen that inthe case of a single tube tire the gas pressure compresses the tire inthe mold, and in the case ofa crescent shaped shoe the usual in- .teriormold inserted between the edges is used. Also, of course, the tread, aswell as the rim flanges will be symmetrically placed relativelyto thecenter. In like or-well known manner, the tension wires for the sidescan be braided in, and the inside and outside suitably finished for use.Such a tire, by reason of its braided structure, wherein the threads ofeach layer run SP1- rally in opposite directions, will, when expanded byair pressure, have a strong tendency to contract in diameter and tightlygrip the rim. Also, the braiding will itself tend to become more denseas the internal pressure increases,- thus tending to resist maintainingthe continuity of said braiding.

2. The method of making a beaded tire consisting in forming andinflating an an' nular tubular rubber core, covering the inflated corewith overlying concentric layers of continuous braided fabricalternating with rubber, applying a tread, beading strip, and tensionwires thereto, and completing the tire by' molding andvulcanizationwhile maintaining the continuity of said braiding. 3.Themethod of making a beaded tire, consisting in forming and inflating anannular tubular rubber core, covering the inflated core with overlyingconcentric layers of continuous braided fabric alternating with rubber,applying tension wires between certain of said layers of braidedfabric,and

a tread and beading externally thereof and completing the tire ready foruse while maintaining the continuity of said fabric by molding andvulcanization.

4:. The method of making a tire structure consisting in forming andinflating-an annular tubular rubber-core, covering the in-.

flated core with overlying concentric tubes of continuous braidedfabric, interposing rubber between said layers, and completing the tireby molding and vulcanization while maintaining the inflation and thecontinuity of said braiding.

' In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, I

in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH H. HILL. Witnesses: f

H. C. MAHAFFY, Jr., J. W. MITCHELL.

